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February 25, 2009
The Spirit
of Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
Lenten Study Opportunities
6:45 – 7:45pm, in Fellowship Hall, Wednesdays March 4, 11, 18, April 1 and 8:
Chocolate for Lent!
Lent isn’t just about self-denial, nor is it about short-term changes that don’t impact our lives after Easter...and it’s certainly not about just giving up chocolate! Lent is a season for growth and exploration, about preparation for a major change—to the post-resurrection life. Join us Wednesday evenings during Lent at 6.45-7.45 in the Fellowship Hall to indulge in a new class that explores our life of faith during Lent. We will use the book Chocolate for Lent and the movie Chocolat to contemplate together life, faith, community, indulgence and self-denial, spiritual growth, and spiritual disciplines. Each week will include viewing some clips of the movie, discussion, and of course some sampling of chocolate! Class will meet Wednesdays March 4, 11, 18, April 1 and 8. (no class March 25) Copies of the book will be available in the church office for $10. (feel free to eat dinner during class if that’s the time you arrive—we have food!) If you plan to participate in the class, it is recom-mended (though not required) to view the entire film so if you’d like to borrow it from Teri, just ask.
9:30am, in the Lounge, Sundays March 1-April 5:
A Clearing Season, by Sarah Parsons, is a personal journey into our own wilderness and what beasts there are in our lives: the obstructions and chaos that interfere with our relationship with God, followed by guidance and reflection on how to welcome God into our busy lives. This class will be based on discussion of our spiritual journey mixed with discussion of the book, and will be facilitated by Kathy Rabe. Books will be available at the first class or in the church office for $10.
11:00am, in the Lounge, Sundays March 1-March 29:
Reading the Gospel according to John. John’s gospel is full of poetry, teaching, stories, praying—it contains some of our favorite scripture passages. This class will focus on daily reading—participants commit to read one chapter each day, and then to come together on Sunday morning to discuss what we’ve read. All you need is a Bible and a willing heart to enter this Lenten journey. Facilitated by Jim Condill and Laura Gilmore.
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Home of the Sparrow Easter Basket Donations
Spring is just around the corner…..or so we hope!! It is time for our church-wide mission project of collecting donations for Easter Baskets for families at Home of the Sparrow. The Sunday school classes will be helping to put the baskets together and fill eggs on Palm Sunday, so donations are needed by Sunday, March 29th.
The following items will be needed for the baskets: plastic eggs, candy, snacks (no nuts please), small toys, books, small stuffed animals, card games, etc. There are presently 15 moms, that we are asking $10.00 gift cards for or donations so that we may purchase additional cards. In addition to gift cards, the moms could use lotions, bath gels, etc. We do not need baskets or grass as there are enough from last year.
There are 22 children and their ages are as follows: 3 children under 1 year (all girls); 4 children ages 1-3 (all girls), 8 children ages 5-10 (5 girls, 3 boys), 6 children ages 11-14 (5 boys, 1 girl). In addition, there is one 13 year old boy with severe disabilities who is the size of a 3 year old, so he could use socks, loungewear, size 3 or 4, stuffed animals or soft blankets.
Thank you so much for your consideration in helping with this very important mission project. Donations can be dropped off in the box across from the office. Any questions, please feel free to contact either of us.
Karen Nelson or Patti Hill |
The Talent-Optional Show Is HERE!
This Sunday, March 1st, from 5-7pm, join us in a Fellowship-Hall-turned-concert/ dance/ theatre-hall for the RCLPC talent-optional show! Your friends and family members, your fellow pew-dwellers, your amazing ricklepickles, will be here displaying their fabulosity! Come and enjoy the show!
Admission is by donation to the high school youth summer trip to the Montreat Youth Conference. Limited concessions will also be available. Fun and awe-inspiring performance will be on tap! See you there!
Just a Reminder . . .
Monday, March 2nd, is our Food Pantry Work Day at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Volunteers are always needed. If you are available to help out or have questions, please call Nancy Vazzano. |
A Word From Your Interim Pastor….What in the world is per capita?
My thanks to the session for the clear presentation to the congregation of our proposed budget and current financial status at the Congregational meeting in January. Thank you too to all who attended and engaged in a thoughtful dialogue. It is clear everyone cares deeply about the health and well-being of RCLPC.
At our meeting a question was asked about the budgeted funds that we send to Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly. I promised that I would bring information to you. So this will be the first in a series of articles.
The big question is “What is God calling us to be in the world?” It’s easy to talk about income and expense, or the need to ‘balance the budget.’ However, when the focus is shifted to participating in partnership with Presbytery, Synod and GA, then we can interpret our budget dollars as supporting the work of God in the world. This is one way the circle of grace is widened.
Let me start with per capita – that’s always a mystery to everyone. What is it? This is the administrative part of the budget. It supports the vision of Blackhawk Presbytery through committee and presbytery meeting expenses, office expenses, and personnel expenses. Income comes from a ‘per capita’ assessment from each church based on the individual membership number. The 2009 assessment approved at the November presbytery meeting by the elder commissioners and pastors present is $34.34 per member, of which $24.70 is retained by the presbytery. $9.64 goes to support synod and general assembly administrative expenses.
It has been said that per capita is like a utility bill. Just as we pay for heat, light, water, and telephone in order to remain connected to the utility systems and benefit from the services provided, we also pay our per capita so that the Presbyterian system can function on behalf of all of us. It is a necessary linkage to our connectional system.
The Presbytery Business Affairs Committee (again this is pastors, elders, and staff) prepares a proposed operating budget, just as the Session does for the local congregation. The 2009 Administrative/per capita budget was reduced by $24,000 from 2008. After the budget is approved at the November presbytery meeting, the apportionment funds are raised from congregations and payments transmitted through presbytery. In the past Blackhawk Presbytery forwarded the full assessed amount to Synod and GA regardless of whether the presbytery received enough funds. That payment was made from reserves. Currently the policy is to forward only what is received from congregations.
In the next Spirit, I will write about the Mission dollars for shared ministry and missions with congregations.
Grace and peace ~ Pastor Jan
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2009 Presbytery-wide Mission Trip
Help Rebuild the New Orleans Area
The group will be working with (PCO) Presbyterian Community Outreach in Slidell, LA, currently working to rebuild the New Orleans area. PCO accepts and houses volunteer groups free of charge to do home repair to low income families, elderly persons and disabled individuals affected by hurricane Katrina. PCO provides housing, tools, materials, and instruction.
We plan to leave on Saturday April the 25th and return Sunday May the 3rd, working in the New Orleans area Monday through Friday of that week.
If you are interested and/or have questions about what to expect, ask MJ Towne or Dick and Cheryl Brinks as well as Pastor Kennedy. They have all experienced working at this location. Also check web site www.pcoslidell.org. for more information.
Interest and questions – please see Bill Pittenger
Thanks for the Jaw-Dropping Response
to the Request for
Children’s Shoes and Socks
The church and community’s response to the request for children's shoes and socks to send to the soldiers in the Woodstock National Guard in Afghanistan has been good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over! We are not collecting anymore because 1st Sgt Andy Fowles has e-mailed that after he and his soldiers pass out the first mailing, he will let us know if they need more. To date, we have mailed 27 boxes filled with a total of 451 pairs of shoes, 25 pairs of boots, 513 pairs of socks, and 28 rolls of toilet paper for the soldiers, estimated value is $2800.00, and surface/nonpriority postage was $454.92. Please click on the "Notes from the Troops" page on our church website (www.rclpc.org) to see photos of the soldiers in the National Guard and the children in Afghanistan.
Thanks, Mary Moltmann and Ed Bennett
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Youth News
NORTHWALL trip scheduled!
On Sunday, March 15th, the middle and high school youth will spend the afternoon climbing away at Northwall’s indoor-rock-climbing extravaganza.
We will have a pizza lunch here at church at 1pm, then head to Northwall. Youth can be picked up at Northwall (824 S. Main Street, Crystal Lake) by 5pm. Cost per youth: $12
Every Youth needs to have a parent-signed permission/waiver form from Northwall. These can be downloaded from www.climbnorthwall.com/waiver or obtained from Teri. Please turn these permission forms and your $12 in to Teri before your parents leave you at church that Sunday, so we’re sure to have everything in order!
RSVP to Teri by Thursday, March 5th so we can be sure to have enough adult belayers so everyone can climb!
Help Send Our Troops on an
Easter Egg Hunt!
Come to Fellowship Hall from 10:00 - 11:00am on Sunday, March 15 to stuff candy into plastic Easter Eggs and to write greetings on a blow-up bunnies. If you can donate plastic fillable eggs or small candy, please contact us. We will need a lot of eggs and candy for RCLPC's troops: Matt Trummel in Afghanistan, Ryan Schack in Afghanistan, Joshua Fidder in Iraq, Amy McCall in Afghanistan, Justin Roach in Quatar, and for the 56 soldiers with the Woodstock National Guard in Afghanistan. Thanks! Mary Moltmann and Ed Bennett
Notes from Our Troops. . .
“Thank you so much. I cannot believe all of the donations of shoes and socks, it is incredible. We will make a lot of kids very happy once we get all of these handed out. Our plan is to meet with one of the village elders and ask him the best way to distribute the shoes and socks. Sometimes it is difficult to hand the stuff out and be fair about it because the older kids take it from the younger kids, but this time we will have plenty for all of them. We are very lucky to have people like you supporting us!”
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Lent: Newness and Covenant
During Lent we will focus on newness and covenant. God keeps promises including the promise to do a new thing. We’ll explore that theme in worship through such stories as Noah, Abraham, the Ten Commandments, and the prophets lifting up voices of hope in the midst of despair. And of course, we’ll reflect on what the New Covenant established by Jesus means to us today. “Behold,” God says, “I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? Even now it springs forth.” That’s a promise we can count on.
First Sunday in Lent (March 1): “New Creation” - Genesis 9.8-17
On this first Sunday in Lent, we hear again the story of God’s covenant, God’s promise to us, and we celebrate being part of God’s new creation, ever changing and growing. (TCP)
Second Sunday in Lent (March 8): “New Names” - Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25
Trust - an image of God’s grace. Abraham and Sarah’s faith in God’s promise opens the future to the blessings of grace. (JK)
Third Sunday in Lent (March 15): “New Community” - Exodus 20:1-17; I Corinthians 1:18-25
Holy Foolishness - an image of God’s grace. Moses receives the community-forming words of the Lord. In Corinth, the church has gone into a meltdown. We think about what it means to be a community transformed by knowing God. (JK)
Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 22): “New Chances” - Numbers 21.4-9
This Sunday we hear a strange story, not part of our usual church experience, and contemplate together what it means to have a second (or third or fourth or hundredth) chance at life together with God and with the community of God’s people. (TCP)
Fifth Sunday in Lent (March 29): “New Heart” - Jeremiah 31: 31-34; John 12: 20-33
God’s amazing desire for us – an image of God’s grace. “The days are surely coming…” Jeremiah announces. “The hour has come...” announces John. (JK)
Palm Sunday (April 5): “New King” - Mark 11.1-11
“Jesus enters Jerusalem as a King... but what kind of king is this, who rides not a warhorse but a donkey’s colt? What kind of king is surrounded not by an army but by singing children? This is not your usual parade, not your usual power, not your usual king... (TCP)
Holy Week Schedule
Tuesday Taizé (April 7) - 7:30pm in the Sanctuary
Join us as we pray for peace in word, song, and silence, during this Holy Week.
Wednesday WEAVE (April 8) - 6:45-7:45pm —at the Crossing (in the fellowship hall)
We will explore Holy Week and its place in our spiritual lives.
Maundy Thursday Seder (April 9) - 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall - Exodus 12; Luke 22
We will celebrate the Festival of Passover, and remember that it was this festival party that was Jesus’ last meal with his friends before his death.
Good Friday (April 10) - 7pm in the Sanctuary: “New Hope” - Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25
On the darkest of nights – an image of grace. What is good about this day? On Good Friday, a night of silence and great despair, we wait long hours, confident of God’s saving grace.
Easter Sunday (April 12) services: 8, 9 (alt), 10:15, 11:15am - “New Life!!!” – Mark 16:1-8
From death, life – an image of grace. Alleluia, shouts of joy - Resurrection! We laugh and sing and celebrate. Easter breakfast served all morning in fellowship hall.
Mission Statement
We gather in grace, connected by a sense of place and purpose with generations of faithful servant-leaders who journeyed before us. We seek to open our hearts as we open our doors – with room for everyone – and to open all our senses to God’s life-affirming, life-changing presence through creative and diverse worship.
We grow in grace, not because we know all the answers – or even all the questions – but because we are drawn to God’s word and Christ’s example. We seek to be Christ’s family here and now – to embrace each other as we are, to nurture who we might become, to celebrate with one another in good times and encourage one another in hard times, to listen and learn and lead.
We go in grace, challenged and strengthened by the Spirit to do God’s work and show God’s love in the world. We seek to look beyond our walls and beyond ourselves – to see God’s image in every face, and to serve God’s people in every place life leads us.
The journey continues in an ever-widening circle of grace.
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